Laser beams at planes: Now, Cathay Pacific reports menace

New Delhi: The menace of laser beams being directed at aircraft operating to and from Delhi's IGI Airport is on the rise and has emerged as a new worry for authorities. The crew operating a Cathay Pacific Hong Kong-Delhi flight on Wednesday became the latest to complain of the same. "The pilots were hit by laser beams from the ground. This occurrence has increased in the past few months and become a menace. This is a safety issue as lasers have a blinding effect for some time and that can have consequences," said sources.
While rules provide that the airport operator and local police take action in such cases, the provision remains mostly on paper. "It is almost impossible to catch miscreants behind such acts and so there is no question of taking action against them. This is leading to an unhindered increase in such incidents," said a source. Delhi is not the only airport to report this menace. This is pretty much a global phenomenon, with airports in the heart of major urban conglomerates facing the maximum brunt. "The glare impairs our ability to see the instruments and the runway, with the flash blindness lasting from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. Since miscreants direct the beam at aircraft from the ground, it hits us in critical landing or take-off phases when our altitude is not too high," said multiple pilots. They look away from the laser beam immediately and report the same to the air traffic control. Aviation authorities are coordinating with airport operators who are in touch with local police. However, that has been without much success so far.